MELBOURNE: Chris Rogers struck a sparkling century to fire Australia to a dominant eight-wicket win in the fourth Ashes Test on Sunday, leaving an insipid England staring down the barrel of a humiliating series whitewash.
The victory, completed before tea on day four, pushed Australia to a 4-0 series lead and the prospect of sweeping England in the fifth and final Test in Sydney seven years after Ricky Ponting’s team whitewashed the tourists in 2006-07.
Needing quick wickets to have any chance of salvaging pride at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, England were let down badly by their captain Alastair Cook, who put down two catches at first slip in the first half-hour to reprieve Rogers on 19 and his opening partner David Warner for 22.
Though Warner lasted only three more runs, Rogers combined with number three batsman Shane Watson to flog a demoralised attack, their carefree partnership of 136 putting the hosts within 31 runs of victory before the opener succumbed for 116.
Australia captain Michael Clarke (6 not out) joined Watson (83 not out) to administer the last rites for England, who played out the final sessions with a deflating weariness that allowed the hosts to mow through the 231 runs required for victory without breaking sweat.
Watson whipped a boundary square to secure the win in style, and charged down the sun-bathed pitch with arms raised as a crowd of more than 38,000 roared their approval.
“We’ve had our ups and downs. There’s no doubt that the winning feeling is back in our camp,” Clarke told reporters.
Warner got out for 25 slashing at a Stokes ball to be snaffled by Bairstow. Rogers and Watson helped drive Australia past 100.
Rogers brought up his ton with a sublime off-drive for four off the bowling of James Anderson.
After Watson raised his second half-century of the series, Rogers was finally dismissed by spinner Monty Panesar for his highest score in Test cricket, slashing an edge to Bairstow.
Clarke brought up his 8,000th Test run in his short innings, adding another milestone in a year in which he became the first player to reach 1,000 runs.
Score Board
Australia won toss
England 1st innings 255 all-out (K Pietersen 71; M Johnson 5-63)
Australia 1st innings 204 all-out (B Haddin 65; S Broad 3-45)
England 2nd innings 179 all-out (K Pietersen 49; Lyon 5-50)
Australia 2nd innings
C J L Rogers c Bairstow b Panesar 116
D A Warner c Bairstow b Stokes 25
S R Watson not out 83
*M J Clarke not out 6
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (2 wickets; 51.5 overs) 231
Did not bat: S P D Smith, G J Bailey, †B J Haddin, M G Johnson, P M Siddle, R J Harris, N M Lyon
Fall: 1-64, 2-200
Bowling: Anderson 11-2-26-0; Broad 10-0-58-0; Panesar 7.5-0-41-1; Stokes 12-0-50-1(1nb); Root 4-1-8-0; Bresnan 7-1-48-0
Result: Australia won by 8 wickets
Series: Australia led the 5-match series by 4-0
Man of the Match: M G Johnson (Australia)
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and H D P K Dharmasena (Sri Lanka). TV umpire: B F Bowden (New Zealand). Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
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